Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-06-02
Ten Million Acres More.

NCrsh Dakota Farmer.
There are over 100000 acres OF the fin
est grazing and farming lands in Dakota
lying west and north of Devils Lake,
which have been withheld from the opera
tions of the homestead and presumption
laws because OF the questionable claim OF
small band Of Turtle Mountain Chipps'
was to the land.
in January, 1885,, Surveyor General Tay-
Tor, of Dakota, contracted for the surveys
OF 10000 of these lands in compliance
with existing regulations, but in less than
month with characteristic Ignorance
and perversity, Commissioner Sparks Is
sued an order indefinitely postponing the
surveys, and even went so far as to decline
TO place on file plats of several townships
surveyed under contracts approved prior
10 the action suspending surveys, after
their examination in the fold, and their
correctness was affirmed. Mr.. II. e. Green
as contractor for these surveys, appealed
to the secretary of the interior, who has
recently overruled the land commission.
er's action and ordered that the suspended
contracts be approved, and plats of sur.
veys already made be filed in the proper
local land offices for disposal under the
land laws. The surveyor general has in
structed the contractors to proceed with
the surveos as rapidly as possible.
This action causes great re ioicing among
the settlers in the DEVILS Lake land dis
trict, hundreds Of whom settled upon IN
surveyed lands after the reversal. in lSI,
by Secretary Teller of the order of Secre-
rotary Schurz made two years previous,
Withholding the lands from occupancy.
Secretary Teller, in his opinion now af-
firmed by Secretary Lamar, says:
II am of the opinion that the claim is
not well founded, yet IL 1t should appear
on "a careful examination OF the facts that
such q claim does ex st it will be the duty
OF the government to make proper com
pensation to the Indians. do not think
nearly 1900, 900 acres of valuable lands.
on which a great number OF settlers G
now loo lated, should be withheld from the
operations of the homestead and the pre-
| emption laws because question has Teen
raised whether the small band OF Indians,
not exceeding three hundred, have
claim on this land or not. IL is
not contcnted by any one that the govern
ment has recognized this claim OF the In
dians by treaty with them, and the Indians
make no use Of the land'except to roam
over it, not cultivating, think, any OF
| itn
The vast tract Of land now open to set
tlement posse natural advantages un-
| surpass ed by any other part OF Dakota,
Is lands are exceedingly fertile, affor Ting
| the choicest pasturage and p o tuclng
| wheat of the finest quality, and rivaling
| that of the famous Saska tchewan country.
There is an abundance OF wood along the
| streams, providing cheap lumber as well
as fuel for the early settlers. The extern
| sive coal depo. its OF the Turtle mountains
and in the Mouse river valley insure
cheap fuel for the future, and invite man
ufacturing industries.
The removal Of all barriers to the settle
ment and development of the country will
hasten the completion and extension OF the
| Bando, Bottiteau, and other projected
branches OF the Manitoba railroad com.
pany. With its free lands wealth and
| diversity OF natural resources, and present
and prospective facilities for reaching the
| urinary mar kets we know Of no re ZION
offering 50 many inducements TO intend
| ing emigrents.
During the next two or three years We
shall witness tide of immigration into
| the extreme northe part OF Dakota ana
| fine farms, and homes OF pros erous and
happy p op!c. scarcely equa led in the
| history of Dakota, and which was impos.
,ible in the settlement of other states and
territories.